PINCH MY SALT

Morgan Maassen joins Pinch My Salt for one of the funniest and weirdest surf stories we’ve ever heard — including the night Jeremy Flores “choked out” Sterling Spencer… while Morgan stood there trying to get the photo.

In this episode, Morgan Maassen sits down with Sterling Spencer and Ryan Spencer to talk about the golden era of surf videos, Surf Madness, Quiksilver, Billabong, Kelly Slater, Jeremy Flores, Nate Tyler, Dane Reynolds, Taj Burrow, John John Florence, surf photography, underwater shooting, and the chaos behind some of the most iconic and bizarre moments in modern surf culture.

Morgan...

The Wedge got so big surfers pulled out 9-foot guns—and Blair Conklin says it was some of the biggest surf he has seen there in his lifetime. In this episode of the Pinch My Salt podcast, Blair breaks down the historic Wedge swell at Newport Beach, why it may have been the biggest in over a decade, and how it compared to Hurricane Marie.

Blair takes Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan inside the chaos: two waves colliding, unpredictable takeoff zones, massive shorebreak, Hawaiian chargers, Koa Rothman, a bodyboarder throwing a double backflip, and the split-second positioning ne...

Did Marshall Alberga date the same woman as Kelly Slater? In this episode of the Pinch My Salt Podcast, professional surfer Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan sit down with Florida surf legend Marshall Alberga for one of our wildest surf conversations yet. Marshall tells the story of beating 11-time world champion Kelly Slater in a man-on-man surf contest at Cocoa Beach, the awkward handshake that followed, and why things between Marshall and Kelly may have remained weird for nearly 20 years.

The crew also talks about Kelly Slater’s competitive mindset, East Coast surfing, Florida surf culture, the Se...

Is the World Surf League actually for sale… and if so, who in the world is buying it?

On this episode of Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan dive into the possible sale of the WSL, the future of professional surfing, and whether competitive surfing lost its core audience when the ASP became the World Surf League. Could ESPN buy the WSL? Could wave pools, YouTube surf content, or a UFC-style reality show save pro surfing? Or is the surf contest world too niche, too expensive, and too disconnected from real surf culture?

We...

Tom Carroll joins Pinch My Salt to talk about one of the biggest shifts happening in surfing right now: wave pools, the future of surf contests, the WSL, and whether competitive surfing is about to change forever. In this episode, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan dive into wave pool surfing, the Stab air contest, Huey Vaughn’s insane aerial progression, the WSL’s New Zealand/Raglan event struggles, flat surf contests, modern surf judging, the future of surf competitions, and why wave pools might become the next major stage for professional surfing.

Tom Carroll, two-time world champion and...

Luke Cederman, aka Raglan Surf Report, joins Pinch My Salt for a hilarious surf podcast episode breaking down the WSL New Zealand Pro, the Raglan contest drama, the lack of waves, pro surfing chaos, surf culture, World Surf League commentary, CT surfers, Gabriel Medina, Filipe Toledo, Jack Robinson, Kelly Slater, twin fins, surf industry rumors, and why this New Zealand event felt like one of the weirdest WSL contests ever. Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan call Luke live from Raglan to get the inside scoop on what was really happening behind the scenes at the contest, from boring heats...

Jack Johnson joins Pinch My Salt for a hilarious, deep, and surprisingly surf-core conversation about Kelly Slater, The Surfers band, Tom Curren, Rob Machado, Peter King, North Shore surf culture, Banana Pancakes, Thicker Than Water, Loose Change, Pipeline, Backdoor, Tamayo Perry, surf films, Hawaiian music, and the wild story of how Jack Johnson may have accidentally been left out of Kelly Slater’s surf supergroup.

In this episode, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan sit down with Jack Johnson to talk about his early days as a surfer, filmmaker, musician, and North Shore kid before he became one of...

This week on Pinch My Salt, we sit down with the legendary Raimana Van Bastolaer, the iconic Tahitian surfer, Teahupo’o waterman, surf guide, wave pool coach, and one of the most beloved characters in surfing. Raimana tells wild stories from the early days of Teahupo’o, growing up around Manoa Drollet, switching from bodyboarding to surfing, hosting Hawaiian surfers like Pancho Sullivan, Noah Johnson, Andy Irons, and Bruce Irons, and helping bring big-wave safety, jet skis, and surf culture to one of the heaviest waves on earth.

Raimana also talks about working with Kelly Slater, the Surf...

Pinch My Salt is back with Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan diving deep into one of the funniest and most strangely controversial topics in surf culture: the double grab air. In this episode, Sterling breaks down why surfers, skaters, magazines, gatekeepers, and aerial surfing purists have argued for years over double grabs, Superman airs, Taj Burrow, Christian Fletcher, Andy Irons, Kelly Slater, CJ Hobgood, Jordy Smith, Matt Meola, Stab High, Surfing Magazine, old-school surf style, skateboarding influence, and what actually makes a surf trick cool or lame.

The boys also get into classic Pinch My Salt chaos...

This week on Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan sit down with legendary adaptive surfer Jesse Billauer, founder of Life Rolls On and one of the most inspiring figures in surf history. Jesse opens up about his life-changing surfing accident at 17, becoming a quadriplegic, the brutal reality of losing independence, and how surfing, family, faith, friendship, and purpose helped him keep rolling forward.

https://liferollson.org/

From getting back in the ocean with Rob Machado, visits from Kelly Slater, riding perfect waves at the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch, and growing up around Billabong...

Kris Markovich joins Pinch My Salt for a wild deep dive into skateboarding history, old school street skating, Gulf Breeze and Pensacola skate culture, Dogtown, GNS, Rodney Mullen, Christian Fletcher, Bam Margera, CKY, Tampa contests, skate slams, art, and what it really means to stay core. In this episode, Kris Markovich talks about growing up skating in Pensacola and Gulf Breeze, building backyard ramps, skating ditches, getting sponsored, turning pro, filming legendary video parts, meeting Christian Fletcher, riding for Dogtown and GNS, skating through the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, and why he never wanted to sell out. This is...

Makua Rothman joins Pinch My Salt for one of the wildest and most honest surf podcast conversations we’ve had yet. In this episode, Makua Rothman talks about growing up on the North Shore of Oahu, what it was like being the son of Eddie Rothman, the old Hawaii surf scene, North Shore fight stories, the legendary Billabong house fight, Surfer Poll night chaos, Jeremy Flores, TJ Barron, and what surf culture used to feel like before the surf industry changed. We get into the real story behind the Billabong house brawl, localism at Pipeline, old-school North Shore rules, Ha...

Deadmau5 joins Pinch My Salt for a hilarious and unfiltered surf podcast conversation covering Deadmau5, EDM, DJ culture, electronic music, Coachella, wake surfing, surfing in Hawaii, AI music, fake DJs, ghost producers, Fisher, Skrillex, Kelly Slater, wave pools, and the truth about the music industry. In this episode, Deadmau5 talks about learning to wake surf, trying to surf in Hawaii, the difference between real musicians and DJs, the rise of AI music tools, fake producer culture, ghost production, Coachella stories, wearing the iconic Deadmau5 helmet, getting too drunk at festivals, and why modern DJ culture can feel completely fake...

EP 118 | The Aftermath of The JOEL TUDOR Episode | Pinch My Salt 

The Pinch My Salt Podcast is back with one of the wildest surf culture conversations yet as Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan break down the explosive Joel Tudor aftermath, the FireWire surfboard controversy, and the heated debate taking over the surf world. This episode dives deep into surf industry drama, core surfing, surfboard shapers, Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Thailand surfboard manufacturing, hand-shaped surfboards, surfboard pop-outs, and whether big surf brands are hurting small shapers and local surf shops. Sterling opens up about his p...

You want the surfing secret? In this episode of Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan break down the real secret to getting better at surfing: remembering your last wave. From surf progression, surf memory, and mental notes in surfing to cutbacks, airs, style, twin fins, fish boards, mid-lengths, longboards, and shortboards, this episode is packed with real surf wisdom, comedy, and classic surf-core chaos. Sterling also tells the insane story of saving eight girls from drowning, and the boys go all in on Kelly Slater, Firewire, Stab in the Dark, surfboard drama, foil boarding, longboarding, skateboarding, Star...

On this episode of Pinch My Salt, we sit down with Joel Tudor for an unfiltered deep dive into surf culture, longboarding, surf industry drama, Kelly Slater, FireWire surfboards, soft tops, surf etiquette, core surfing, and the future of real surf culture. Joel breaks down the rise of soft top surfboards, how they changed the lineup, the loss of surf etiquette, and why modern surfing feels different from the golden era. We also get into Skip Frye, Laird Hamilton, Jonah Hill surfing, Oxbow, classic longboarding, surfboard shaping, garage shapers, eco surf hypocrisy, WSL talk, jiu-jitsu, and Joel’s wild pe...

Tom Carroll doesn’t just have 2 World Titles and 3 Pipe Masters — he’s got one of the most honest comeback stories in surfing. In this episode of Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan sit down with the Aussie legend to talk about life after pro surfing, the pressure of being on top, and the dark chapter Tom has openly shared: drug addiction, recovery, and learning how to feel “love trying to get in” again. Tom breaks down how grief, trauma, and single-minded focus helped build a world champion… and how that same intensity can eventually turn on you.

In this episode of Pinch My Salt, we break down the Kelly Slater drama, the Channel Islands vs Firewire controversy, and the latest conversation around Stab in the Dark. Was Kelly Slater wrong to leave Channel Islands Surfboards? Did he “betray” Al Merrick and Britt Merrick, or was it a smart business move after everything he gave to surfing? We get into the history of Kelly Slater and Channel Islands, why so many surfers are calling him a snake, and why we think the story is way more complicated. This is a full Kelly Slater podcast discussion with surf indu...

Kai Lenny breaks down the real story behind his tension with Laird Hamilton — the miscommunication, the “never meet your heroes” moment, and how they eventually squashed it. In this episode of Pinch My Salt, we go deep on big-wave surfing, tow-in surfing, foiling, stand-up paddling, windsurfing, kiteboarding, and what it actually takes to survive places like Nazaré and Jaws (Peʻahi). Kai shares insane behind-the-scenes stories from the lineup, near-death wipeouts, the chaos between sets, and why the ocean rewards the people who “read the room.” We also hit surf culture, waterman mindset, Red Bull athlete life, sponsorship reality, and the funn...

What happens when Bert Kreischer sits down with the Pinch My Salt crew and starts firing off stories like a machine-gun… about surfing, comedy, fame, Hawaii, localism, “small waves,” and the one joke **Netflix actually pushed back on?

In this episode, Bert breaks down the moment **Shannon Sharpe basically invented his life story on a podcast (and Bert just… went with it). We talk the burnout of modern podcasting, the chaos of touring, surfing culture and pecking order, why “locals only” energy is so gnarly, and the difference between chasing big waves vs. actually enjoying the small ones.

Pinch My Salt Podcast is back with a heater: we’re joined by crowd work wizard and comedian Ian Bagg for a wild, hilarious conversation that somehow covers stand-up comedy, crowd work, surfing, church video life, marriage advice, gym chaos, and the weird overlap between comedians and surfers.

If you love comedy podcasts, surf culture, and the kind of episodes where you genuinely don’t know what’s coming next—this one’s for you. Ian breaks down what crowd work actually is, why some comics hate it, how social media changed comedy, and why staying true to yoursel...

In this episode of Pinch My Salt, we sit down with BRICK — DJ, producer, and founder of the Ebony Beach Club — to talk about Black surfers, representation in surfing, and why surfing should be for everyone. Brick shares the real story of how Ebony Beach Club started, what it felt like being one of the only Black people in the lineup, and how a simple idea turned into a massive movement celebrating Black beach culture, surf community, and belonging in the ocean. We get into surf culture, barriers to entry, how to make surfing more welcoming, and what equality in s...

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How’s it! You know the rules. 🤙 In this episode of Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan call up Shane Dorian — legendary big wave surfer, Pipeline / North Shore charger, former World Tour pro, and one of the most respected voices in surf culture — to talk real-life surfing in 2026. We get into what’s happening with the surf industry, why surf sponsorships are drying up, the truth about pro surfing money, and why even top young surfers are struggli...

In this episode of the Pinch My Salt Podcast we sit down with Yancy for a legendary, unfiltered, laugh conversation that swings from surf culture and Florida surf life to faith, spirituality, and growing up in strict Christianity—with a hard detour into the most chaotic 90s MTV story you’ve ever heard. Yancy breaks down what it feels like “crossing the bridge” from youthful ego to wisdom, why the fight to be spiritual can get weirder the closer you get to God, and how surf life tests your patience (and your flesh) daily. Then it goes full send: his real...

Gabriel Medina just walked away from Rip Curl after 16 years—and the surf world is officially changing. In this episode of Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan break down the biggest surfing news and what it means for pro surfing contracts, surf sponsorships, and the future of the surf industry. Are legacy surf brands like Rip Curl, Billabong, Quiksilver and Volcom losing their grip? Why are top surfers chasing new deals, luxury brands, and short-term “collabs” instead of lifelong sponsor relationships? We talk Gabriel Medina, Yago Dora, and how “surf teams” and big surf movies are fading while surf...

How Two Pro Surfers Discovered the Fedora | Pinch My Salt

Two pro surfers head to California and absolutely lose the plot. 🌴🤣 In this episode of Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan dive into wild California stories, surf culture chaos, skate park madness, and the kind of unfiltered comedy you only get from lifelong surfers. From getting rear-ended by a cop, running into Chris Rock at the Viper Room, and accidentally helping start the fedora hipster era, to breaking down surf fights, splash etiquette, and why surfers are way tougher than they look — this one spirals fast.

EP 105 | The Secret Art of Barrel Riding | Pinch My Salt

The Secret Art of Barrel Riding goes way deeper than just getting pitted. In this episode of Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan unpack what it really means to progress in surfing—from learning how to ride barrels properly to understanding the mindset of true surf black belts. Using legendary moments from Jordy Smith, Dane Reynolds, Tom Curren, Bruce Irons, Kelly Slater, Rasta, and Bryce Young, the boys break down why some surfers naturally flow with the wave while others fight it. Th...

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In this episode of Pinch My Salt, we start by reflecting on what it felt like sitting down with 3x World Champion Tom Curren. Not a highlight reel interview, but a rare, quiet, sometimes uncomfortable conversation with one of surfing’s most mysterious figures. We talk about why Tom is so hard to interview, his humility, his long pauses, and why being in the room with him feels completely different than talking to any other surf legend.

From there, the episode opens up i...

Surf legend Tom Curren joins Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan in Pensacola to talk story, Black Beauty, twin fins vs thrusters, and whether Gerry Lopez “sold out” to soft tops by putting his name on Costco foam boards. In this episode of the Pinch My Salt surf podcast, we go deep on core surf culture, style, and the future of surfing while laughing about The Search era, foamie invasions, and “soft top police” writing tickets in the parking lot.

Tom breaks down his iconic Jeffreys Bay waves, the magic of Skip Frye boards and Al Merrick designs, East Coa...

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EP 102 of Pinch My Salt dives into one of our wildest conversations yet — modern dating, iPhone girls vs Android girls, the 70% divorce trap, wedding photo addiction, surf culture chaos, scooter wipeouts, swimming cults, Corlord fights at the pier, and the funniest Lord of the Rings crossover you never asked for. If you love surf comedy podcasts, relationship hot takes, Sterling Spencer jokes, Core vs Zesty debates, or just want to hear two Florida surf co...

In this episode of the Pinch My Salt surf comedy podcast, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan dive deep into surf culture, surf beefs, core vs kook debates, and the legendary rivalry energy between Sterling and Kelly Slater. This episode is loaded with surf stories, surf injuries, surf philosophy, surf progression, localism, corelord wisdom, and behind-the-scenes tales from the pro surfing world. From calling out surf egos to breaking down why Kelly Slater feared Sterling’s comedy, we explore the wild side of the surf industry, surf contests, YouTube surf culture, and what truly makes someone a “core surfer.” Whether you're...

Aloha 🤙 Welcome to Pinch My Salt with pro surfer Sterling Spencer and cousin Ryan—today we dive into the lineup wars: Core-lords vs. Kooks, “Karen surfers”, Gen Z etiquette, peak-hour rules, and why surf schools aren’t teaching the actual rules of surfing. We break down lineup regulation (no refs, no sidelines), how to read local hours at spots like Pipe, and a belt-rank idea for the black belt of surfing so beginners stop paddling into danger. We react to viral clips (fake shark? arrow check!), John John Florence rail power, Mason Ho magic, skim-style wedges, and Pharrell’s Ebony Beach C...

EP 98 | Want to Do Airs? Start Here. | Pinch My Salt

Ever wondered how surfers actually learn to do airs? In this episode of Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer breaks down the real secret to surf aerials — and it’s NOT what most surf coaches tell you. We talk about the right way to start learning airs, why speed matters more than technique, how skating barefoot helps progression, and the biggest mistakes surfers make when trying to boost.

This episode quickly turns into a hilarious deep dive into surf culture, longboarding vs shortboarding, knee...

Happy Halloween from Pinch My Salt—the surf-comedy podcast with Sterling Spencer & Cousin Ryan. Tonight we summon North Shore myths, Pipeline nightmares, Santa Cruz sketchiness, church hell-house stories, and the eternal debate: is gatekeeping surfing good for the culture or a kook move? We roast foilboarders, praise core lords, confess to bowling with Australians, and ask why the scariest waves make us feel the most alive. If you love surf history, wipeouts, haunted swells, Kelly Slater & Laird Hamilton lore, Hawaii surf culture, Pete & Pete nostalgia, and ridiculous Halloween bits, this one’s for you. Hit LIKE, drop a 👻 in the com...

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Sterling Spencer finally apologizes to Gen Z surfers — but blames the algorithm. In this hilarious and brutally honest Pinch My Salt Podcast episode, Sterling and Cousin Ryan dive deep into the battle between core vs zesty surfing, authentic surf culture vs algorithm chasing, and the rise of Gen Z surfers doing it for the clip instead of the wave. From Sterling’s viral “Sorry Gen Z” song to full-blown discussions on surfing’s soul, vaping surfers, skate park clout, sur...

What if one simple surf tip could completely change the way you surf? In this episode of Pinch My Salt, Pro Surfer Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan break down the one board tweak and mindset shift that instantly improves your style, flow, and rail control.

We’re talking about learning to surf smarter, not harder — ditching bad habits, losing the tail pad, feeling your rails again, and reconnecting to what surfing’s all about. Whether you’re riding a Firewire, Channel Islands, or some hipster fish you found on Craigslist, this episode dives into what actually helps you surf...

Surf beef, soft-tops, and the hottest gossip in surfing! all in one episode. Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan break down a spicy Huntington vs North Shore incident, Lower Trestles madness, Gerry Lopez still styling at 75, finger-flip airs (skate tricks in the water!), and the true origin story of the thruster (Simon Anderson, we salute you). We tour Billabong House lore, Andy’s board stash, groms in stand-up pits, and why lineup etiquette still matters. Plus: quads vs thrusters, boogie-board respect, hurricane missions on Tom Curren’s Black Beauty, and whether the “right board” gets too much credit.

If you l...

Surf comedy meets core-lord confession. In this episode, Sterling tells the wild story of surfing against Kelly Slater at J-Bay—mind games, heat strategy, Andy Irons lore, and the white wetsuit era. We riff on boogie boarding vs. surfing, the real truth about the “720” (it’s a 540, fight us), Chris Joslin’s El Toro 20 tre flip moment, small-town youth group chaos, paddle strength hacks, lineup psychology (how to get more waves), and why the ’80s were the golden era of pro surfing. If you love surf podcasts, skate culture, and dumb-smart jokes, you’re home.
Keywords: Kelly Slater story, Andy Ir...

Aloha, core-lords! In this episode, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan pitch a wild, actually-workable future for surfing: Surf Dojos + a Jiu-Jitsu-style belt system (white → blue → purple → brown → black, with degrees for airs, big waves, and riding any board). We roast soft-tops, salute the Herbie/Nathan/Christian Fletcher lineage and Astrodeck, debate WSL reform (END the endless qualifying grind, merge storylines, boost media), and ask the hard question: Is pickleball bigger than surfing—and why? We break down style vs. tricks, longboarding at size, and what makes true black belts like John John Florence, Joel Parkinson, Griffin Colapinto, Italo Ferreira, Nathan Flo...